Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit preferred route to be published

[A S Leib]

Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit preferred route to be published

The preferred route for the Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (HERT) scheme is set to be published this summer.

The HERT is a proposed mass transit system at the centre of plans to improve east-west connectivity across the county, but despite being championed for years no route has been published.
Amid false dawns in 2024 and 2025, Hertfordshire County Council is now understood to be aiming to release the proposed route – along with hub locations and “proposed mode” – this summer.

Following approach by the LDRS, a council spokesperson revealed the latest schedule and reiterated its commitment to improving Hertfordshire's transport.
They said that addressing the challenges of east-west transport and improving passenger transport remained a priority, with work to support the development of the HERT system having continued over the past year.
“Shorter-term interventions” that would build towards the HERT were embedded in the June 2024 update of the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), they added.

“This document sets out the vision for the HERT and provides more detail to enable the project to be promoted at a regional and national level,” said the spokesperson.
“We have therefore taken the opportunity to undertake a major update to our Countywide Transport Model, which has now been finalised.
“We are currently using this model to test the performance of the potential HERT routing and as such we are now planning to publish a prospectus in the summer 2026.

“This prospectus will set out the preferred route, hub locations and proposed mode.”
Setting out the vision for the HERT, the updated BSIP highlights the role of the scheme in unlocking employment and housing potential. It points to the importance of the scheme linking into the local bus network.
“HERT is a £2.5bn mass rapid transit project that will run east-west across Hertfordshire, linking key towns to our four north-south rail routes and unlocking the potential of over 100,000 new jobs and 100,000 new homes across the county that will otherwise be hampered by already overloaded infrastructure,” says the BSIP.

“The core HERT route (c£500m – £750m) will provide high-frequency trackless trams when it is fully delivered, but the investment will unlock the potential of the local bus network well ahead of the first HERT vehicles running.

“An important part of HERT’s success will be how the local bus network is adapted to feed onto the HERT system and operate at frequencies and periods of the day to maximise access and interchange potential.
“HERT will also connect to rail services eastwards to Stansted Airport, significantly strengthening Hertfordshire’s access to this important transport hub.”
The June 2024 update of the county council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) can be found at www.intalink.org.uk/bus-service-improvement-plan.

As it isn't yet known if it might be bus lanes, a tram, or, as I'm sure there's enough cynics here, nothing, I think "other transport" is the best place for this.

"Trackless trams" in the fifth paragraph sounds like a decision on the mode's been made, in which case I'd rather they just be called buses, unless the aim's to make a trolleybus network which seems unlikely.

 

[Farigiraf]

Unguided busway / BRT with bendy buses that look vaguely like trams is likely what it's going to be. Certainly better than nothing - a tram or rail link, however more beneficial it may be, would never get funded. Hope that they'll try to time departures with Abbey line rail services instead of competing with it.

 

[John Webb]

"Trackless Tram" = Trolleybus????

 

[A S Leib]

"Trackless Tram" = Trolleybus????

I don't believe that it would be a trolleybus, nor have I seen any suggestion that it would be one.

 

[zwk500]

"Trackless Tram" = Trolleybus????

A trolleybus is now effectively obsolete with battery-powered buses available.

Trackless Tram is probably likely to mean a Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT), similar to the Glider system in Belfast.

 

[A S Leib]

Could it mean a guided busway similar to Dunstable's?

 

[Brubulus]

It's going to be a bus only road, which happens to ensure that buses remain stuck in all queues possible, only bypassing areas where there is no congestion, much like the Cambridgeshire busway most likely.

 

[bobjones555]

Hertfordshire county council have set out their proposed route and are doing a tour of their "trackless tram".

Improving passenger transport - Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit

The Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (HERT) will be a new, sustainable passenger transport network. It will carry more people than a car but will be more convenient and reliable than a traditional bus.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

After comparing all options, we've identified trackless tram as the currently preferred mode for the HERT. They offer many of the benefits of tram‑like travel, such as high capacity and a quality passenger experience, while remaining more flexible, less expensive and quicker to deliver. This approach best supports HERT’s ambition to create a fast, reliable and well‑connected transport link between town centres and existing rail routes.

Other modes assessed include bus rapid transit, heavy rail, light rail, personal rapid transit and very light rail. Each mode was reviewed for cost, practicality, infrastructure needs and how well they could support fast, reliable journeys.

 

[Bald Rick]

Hertfordshire county council have set out their proposed route and are doing a tour of their "trackless tram".

Improving passenger transport - Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit

The Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (HERT) will be a new, sustainable passenger transport network. It will carry more people than a car but will be more convenient and reliable than a traditional bus.

www.hertfordshire.gov.uk

that‘s a rather simple thing for a preferred route. For example does it go into St Albans or not? (one proposal had it routed along the A414).

 

[zwk500]

I find it quite funny that immediately under their proposed "Route" (actually a corridor) they have this:

How we'll decide on a scheme​

We've developing scheme options using a transparent business case process. We assess a long list of potential options against Government guidance - including objectives, costs, viability, deliverability, value for money, strategic connectivity and expected demand - to produce a shortlisted set of feasible choices.

Which implies they made no actual decision about which roads (existing, upgraded, or new) it might or might not use.

that‘s a rather simple thing for a preferred route. For example does it go into St Albans or not? (one proposal had it routed along the A414).

According to the website, that's been filed under "pfft, details, details".

How and when will the HERT be delivered?​

How - our delivery strategy
When

HERT is a long‑term, multi‑phase project designed to transform Hertfordshire’s currently disconnected public transport network using trackless trams, improved bus services and better links to rail stations. Because the network will be delivered in stages, there is no single completion date. We'll introduce different sections as planning, design and local preparation are completed, allowing the system to grow progressively.

 

[Magdalia]

BBC News have a report on this here:

'Trackless tram' could link Hemel Hempstead and Harlow

A proposed rapid transit system could cut cross‑county travel times between Hertfordshire and Essex.

www.bbc.co.uk

A "trackless tram" network has been unveiled as a potential solution to cut cross-county journeys in Hertfordshire from more than three hours to under an hour.

Hertfordshire County Council said the Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (Hert), external vehicles would run between Hemel Hempstead and Harlow as often as every 10 minutes.

Demonstration vehicles, with wheels, have been at events across the county. The council said they would be "more convenient and reliable than a traditional bus".

However, transport bosses admitted there could be a long wait until they hit the road, with the project potentially costing more than £2bn and not being completed until 2040.

 

[PeterC]

BBC News have a report on this here:

'Trackless tram' could link Hemel Hempstead and Harlow

A proposed rapid transit system could cut cross‑county travel times between Hertfordshire and Essex.

www.bbc.co.uk

The BBC report just makes it look as if they have been playing with crayons.

I hope that there is more to it than that.

 

[edwin_m]

From BBC via #11:

Demonstration vehicles, with wheels, have been at events across the county.

I guess that rules out Maglev.

 

[Recessio]

The BBC report just makes it look as if they have been playing with crayons.

I hope that there is more to it than that.

Interesting the map shows Watford to Croxley. I wonder if that's on the old Croxley Green branch/Croxley Rail Link route, or if it will take some other route form Watford to Croxley?

 

[CyrusWuff]

Interesting the map shows Watford to Croxley. I wonder if that's on the old Croxley Green branch/Croxley Rail Link route, or if it will take some other route form Watford to Croxley?

I'd be surprised if it was anything other than straight along the A412, duplicating the 724 and 725.

 

[PeterC]

I'd be surprised if it was anything other than straight along the A412, duplicating the 724 and 725.

Maybe just stick a HERT label on those routes.

 

[bobjones555]

Interesting the map shows Watford to Croxley. I wonder if that's on the old Croxley Green branch/Croxley Rail Link route, or if it will take some other route form Watford to Croxley?

This would suggest they are looking at it?

https://roundwoodpark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HERT-Hertfordshire-Essex-Rapid-Transport-leaflet-1.pdf

 

[jon0844]

I've watched them showing differing versions of this nonsense for 10 or 15 years now, as part of the local plans councils seem to be obligated to create but never really follow through on.

I don't, personally, give a stuff what the bus/fake tram looks like but rather the route it will take because there are lots of pinch points that delay buses now. If they don't fix that, and that obviously costs the big money, then it's nothing more than - as said above - someone playing with crayons and figuring out how to do nice 3D renders (which sadly as time goes on will likely be prompts in an AI generator to make images).

The render of the fake tram in the drop off area outside Hatfield station is particularly stupid. For one, there's a bus station to the left - although I do wonder if HCC remembers this is there because 95% of the lighting is broken, some of the displays in the shelter are damaged, as indeed are some of the shelters themselves. It's a totally unloved area which is not nice to be in at night, so hardly encouraging people to use the existing buses - let alone some futuristic concept from people who clearly never saw the ridiculous 'ftr' buses First group tried ages ago in places like York.

What people want are buses that don't get held up by traffic, bad parking etc. Buses that run to time and buses that aren't cancelled at short notice with no way for the displays at bus stops (or apps) to show that said bus is cancelled. This makes waiting for a bus a gamble for a lot of people, who just stick to the 'safety' of using their car instead.

Rant over!

 

[bramling]

I've watched them showing differing versions of this nonsense for 10 or 15 years now, as part of the local plans councils seem to be obligated to create but never really follow through on.

I don't, personally, give a stuff what the bus/fake tram looks like but rather the route it will take because there are lots of pinch points that delay buses now. If they don't fix that, and that obviously costs the big money, then it's nothing more than - as said above - someone playing with crayons and figuring out how to do nice 3D renders (which sadly as time goes on will likely be prompts in an AI generator to make images).

The render of the fake tram in the drop off area outside Hatfield station is particularly stupid. For one, there's a bus station to the left - although I do wonder if HCC remembers this is there because 95% of the lighting is broken, some of the displays in the shelter are damaged, as indeed are some of the shelters themselves. It's a totally unloved area which is not nice to be in at night, so hardly encouraging people to use the existing buses - let alone some futuristic concept from people who clearly never saw the ridiculous 'ftr' buses First group tried ages ago in places like York.

What people want are buses that don't get held up by traffic, bad parking etc. Buses that run to time and buses that aren't cancelled at short notice with no way for the displays at bus stops (or apps) to show that said bus is cancelled. This makes waiting for a bus a gamble for a lot of people, who just stick to the 'safety' of using their car instead.

Rant over!

This does feel like a way of having some response to the frequently asked question of “where’s the infrastructure for all the new housing?”, as opposed to a serious proposal.

I can’t see Hertfordshire finding £2.5bn for a fake tram.

 

[RailWonderer]

A quality bus service using European buses (Man, Scania, Mercedes whatever) at 20 minute intervals with accurate real time information at each bus stop would work better. It could be integrated with GBR or have an app making it easy to pay and have a loyalty system to discount fares. There are many ways to improve connectivity and usage without needing what sounds like a trolleybus.

 

[Recessio]

This would suggest they are looking at it?

https://roundwoodpark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HERT-Hertfordshire-Essex-Rapid-Transport-leaflet-1.pdf

Interesting, thanks for that. Who actually owns the old trackbed nowadays, given it's a closed line (but closed after privatisation, so I don't think it ever ended up with BRB Residuary), but then they wanted to reuse the alignment for the Metropolitan - I imagine it's one of Network Rail, TfL, or Hertfordshire County Council themselves? Because if they don't own it, I imagine the acquisition costs would have to be factored in? Whereas if the rest of HERT runs on existing roads then the infrastructure costs are a lot cheaper for those sections?

 

[778]

Is there the possibility of the Abbey Line being converted into a Busway?

 

[bobjones555]

I've watched them showing differing versions of this nonsense for 10 or 15 years now, as part of the local plans councils seem to be obligated to create but never really follow through on.

I don't, personally, give a stuff what the bus/fake tram looks like but rather the route it will take because there are lots of pinch points that delay buses now. If they don't fix that, and that obviously costs the big money, then it's nothing more than - as said above - someone playing with crayons and figuring out how to do nice 3D renders (which sadly as time goes on will likely be prompts in an AI generator to make images).

The render of the fake tram in the drop off area outside Hatfield station is particularly stupid. For one, there's a bus station to the left - although I do wonder if HCC remembers this is there because 95% of the lighting is broken, some of the displays in the shelter are damaged, as indeed are some of the shelters themselves. It's a totally unloved area which is not nice to be in at night, so hardly encouraging people to use the existing buses - let alone some futuristic concept from people who clearly never saw the ridiculous 'ftr' buses First group tried ages ago in places like York.

What people want are buses that don't get held up by traffic, bad parking etc. Buses that run to time and buses that aren't cancelled at short notice with no way for the displays at bus stops (or apps) to show that said bus is cancelled. This makes waiting for a bus a gamble for a lot of people, who just stick to the 'safety' of using their car instead.

Rant over!

AI is already being used - the Hatfield Station render you are referring to came from Gemini!

 

[jon0844]

AI is already being used - the Hatfield Station render you are referring to came from Gemini!

Pathetic isn't it!

 

[Saint66]

The demo vehicle was at St Albans Spring festival on Sunday, so ended up having a quick look onboard.

It was very nice internally and was extremely similar to a tram, just slightly narrower. Only issue I spotted was that the disabled bay/area wasn’t particularly big and could only be accessed from the middle one of the three doors.

 

[Mag_seven]

The demo vehicle was at St Albans Spring festival on Sunday, so ended up having a quick look onboard.

It was very nice internally and was extremely similar to a tram, just slightly narrower. Only issue I spotted was that the disabled bay/area wasn’t particularly big and could only be accessed from the middle one of the three doors.

Thread reopened for an update from @fandroid

 

[Recessio]

Thread reopened for an update from @fandroid

In lieu of an update from @fandroid , here are two recent news articles about progress on HERT:

---

From Highway News https://highways-news.com/hert-of-the-matter-hertfordshire-unveils-full-trackless-tram-strategy/:

Plans to reopen the Watford to Croxley rail route and transform transport across Hertfordshire have been revealed. A report for the next Hertfordshire County Council Environment, Transport and Growth Cabinet Panel meeting sets out the proposed Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (HERT) strategy ahead of a November consultation, says the Watford Observer.

The strategy would let passengers travel by trackless tram from Hemel Hempstead and Croxley Green to Harlow in Essex between 6am and 11pm. It will connect five national rail stations which are currently difficult to travel between east to west, while offering similar journey times to those by car.

The service is expected to carry 27,000 passengers a day, with electric trams with a 140-passenger capacity running every 10 minutes.

Most of the route will run along existing roads, but it will also use the abandoned Watford to Croxley branch line, the Abbey Line and purpose-built corridors through the Harlow Gilston and Hemel Hempstead Garden Communities developments.

The Abbey Line will initially be integrated into HERT as is. However, the strategy states that “as the system matures there may need to be consideration about how this section can best deliver the vision of the HERT for frequency and end-to-end journey convenience and quality”.

HERT will be rolled out in phases, with only bus priority measures, infrastructure and technology added along the route up until 2035. Trackless trams are then expected to become commercially viable and be introduced between 2035 and 2040.

A six-week public consultation is planned to start late this month or November, followed by a final decision in February 2027.

From the Watford Observer https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/n...dshire-hert-trackless-tram-strategy-revealed/:

Plans to reopen the Watford to Croxley rail route and transform transport across Hertfordshire have been revealed.

A report for the next Hertfordshire County Council Environment, Transport and Growth Cabinet Panel meeting sets out the proposed Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit strategy ahead of a November consultation.

How will the HERT route work?​

The strategy would let passengers travel by trackless tram from Hemel Hempstead and Croxley Green to Harlow in Essex between 6am and 11pm.

Map of the proposed route for the Hertfordshire Essex Rapid Transit (HERT)

It will connect five national rail stations which are currently difficult to travel between east to west, while offering similar journey times to those by car.

The service is expected to carry 27,000 passengers a day, with 140-passenger electric trams running every 10 minutes.

The full HERT scheme could cost more than £2 billion.

What does the HERT route mean for the Abbey Line and Watford to Croxley branch line?​

Most of the route will run along existing roads, but it will also use the abandoned Watford to Croxley branch line, the Abbey Line and purpose-built corridors through the Harlow Gilston and Hemel Hempstead Garden Communities developments.

'Future of Transport in Hertfordshire' event in Watford

The Abbey Line will initially be integrated into HERT as is. However, the strategy states that “as the system matures there may need to be consideration about how this section can best deliver the vision of the HERT for frequency and end-to-end journey convenience and quality”.

Confirmation of whether this could mean scrapping the rail services on the line has been sought.

What is the timetable for the HERT route?​

HERT will be rolled out in phases, with only bus priority measures, infrastructure and technology added along the route up until 2035. Trackless trams are then expected to become commercially viable and be introduced between 2035 and 2040.

A six-week public consultation is planned to start late this month or November, followed by a final decision in February 2027.

'Future of Transport in Hertfordshire' event in St Albans

What are the benefits of trackless trams for the HERT route?​

Officials expect lower congestion to offset delays caused by giving HERT priority at some locations, including reducing journey times for all vehicles on the A414.

Trackless trams are described as “electric, high-capacity vehicles which offer many tram style benefits without the need for rails or overhead wires”. They can run on standard roads, dedicated lanes or separate routes.

 

[bramling]

In lieu of an update from @fandroid , here are two recent news articles about progress on HERT:

---

From Highway News https://highways-news.com/hert-of-the-matter-hertfordshire-unveils-full-trackless-tram-strategy/:



From the Watford Observer https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/n...dshire-hert-trackless-tram-strategy-revealed/:

For me the killer in all that is “similar journey times to those by car”.

In a chronically congested area, that offers nothing to people. Why would anyone want to travel on a misidentified bus, to have a “similar journey time”, probably less comfort, and quite probably not door-to-door?

Hertfordshire never gets any infrastructure because it doesn’t have the profile of somewhere like London or Manchester, despite being pretty densely populated. The only thing it, along with other home counties, is ever-increasing housebuilding targets, which just choke up the area even more.

A decent rail-based link along the axis Watford-St Albans-Hatfield-Welwyn-Hertford-Harlow would be very useful, but only if it can offer the sort of journey times and quality that rail would normally deliver.

 

[jon0844]

Search for: trackless tram
Replace all with: bus

This idea has been mooted for 20 odd years. It has been a local plan idea for possibly even longer.

If it happens, great, but the Alban Way is partly built on and narrow - with gaps in many places.

Nothing that can't be resolved with lots money and being able to rule over those who will try and stop the works talking place because there are many back gardens backing on to this part of the overall route.

Also, why 6am to 11pm? How does that help shift workers, such as the people who work on numerous warehouses throughout the route (some of whom might currently use the Arriva 724 that runs through the night) or those needing to get the first or last train of the day.

Surely a dedicated system like this could manage something a little earlier or later - or even a hourly or two-hourly frequency?

Many people who can drive probably still will, so this needs to be for everyone else.

 

[Recessio]

For me the killer in all that is “similar journey times to those by car”.

In a chronically congested area, that offers nothing to people. Why would anyone want to travel on a misidentified bus, to have a “similar journey time”, probably less comfort, and quite probably not door-to-door?

One immediate example off the top of my head: Harlow to Watford currently takes 50 minutes by car, or a pitiable 2 hours 22 minutes on the 724 bus. So even anything "similar" to the car is still a massive improvement over the current public transport time!

Hertfordshire never gets any infrastructure because it doesn’t have the profile of somewhere like London or Manchester, despite being pretty densely populated. The only thing it, along with other home counties, is ever-increasing housebuilding targets, which just choke up the area even more.

A decent rail-based link along the axis Watford-St Albans-Hatfield-Welwyn-Hertford-Harlow would be very useful, but only if it can offer the sort of journey times and quality that rail would normally deliver.

More houses (well, technically improved density) makes public transport more viable. See the issues with e.g. East Sussex or most of mid Surrey, where extremely disparate populations that haven't agglomerated into larger towns means there's no hope of ever having anything but cars be a viable solution.

I think the use of the Croxley Green branch, the Abbey line, and some decent level of segregation/busways could go a long way to making journey times of HERT much better than the woeful journey times of the 724 bus. Yes I would of course prefer to see a proper tram (it gives a bigger sense of permanence than a bus route which feels more likely that it could face the chopping block in the future), but I'd definitely take HERT over nothing - let's not let perfect be the enemy of good.